Local governments are increasingly facing challenges from urban wildlife. As we expand into natural habitats—and restore green spaces and waterways—encounters with animals like deer, coyotes, and beavers are inevitable. What’s troubling is how often the response is reactive, violent, and uninformed.
The recent killing of a family of beavers at Ann Arbor’s Leslie Park Golf Course is a case in point. Beavers are remarkably intelligent and ecologically vital—nature’s engineers. But when conflict arose, the only response was lethal removal – reportedly using gruesome Conibear traps that are illegal in Ann Arbor..
It was stated that there was a search for guaranteed solutions before choosing killing. But no intervention comes with a full guarantee, of course, and killing is no exception. It doesn’t solve the problem. Remove animals, and others simply move in. It’s a costly, ineffective cycle that ignores root causes.
Beavers are as astounding as they are adorable—heroes in the fight against climate change. Destroy their dam, and they’ll rebuild it in days. Some communities reintroduce beavers to help restore ecosystems with their miraculous dams that slow water flow, reduce erosion, filter pollutants, and support entire webs of life.
Before European colonization, hundreds of millions of beavers shaped our landscapes, creating wetlands that nurtured biodiversity and regulated water flow, preventing flooding, drought, and wildfires. But by the 1800s, like so many other species, they were nearly wiped out through intense trapping and habitat loss.
But as they return, so do the conflicts. Too often, we forget how to live alongside these vital creatures—and react with hostility instead of wonder, respect and gratitude.
We can do better.
We know what works. Pond levelers and “beaver deceivers” are simple, affordable tools that manage conflicts—without harming beavers or disrupting their habitat. Groups like the Beaver Institute have proven their effectiveness nationwide. Where unique site challenges arise, humane alternatives exist and should be part of a management plan developed in partnership with experts eager to help.
Ann Arbor has invested millions in preserving and restoring natural areas—successes that have allowed biodiversity to thrive. But this progress should come with respect and patience. These spaces aren’t museums—nature isn’t meant to be tidy or static. These are living, dynamic places, and we certainly can’t expect wild animals to follow human rules.
With our collective voice, we recently stopped the DNR’s plan to gas Canada geese and their goslings—a cruel, outdated method of population control. But the pause is temporary. If we want lasting change, we need to do more than fight isolated incidents. We must convince policymakers that animal life has intrinsic value and that our wild neighbors have a right to live, too.
We have the tools. We have the expertise. We just need the will to prioritize holistic, humane, science-based solutions over outdated reactions driven by fear or convenience.
Fortunately, some communities are showing how coexistence is possible—resolving wildlife conflicts with education, tolerance, and expert support. Ann Arbor and Washtenaw County can lead this movement. We pride ourselves on compassion, sustainability, and innovation. Let’s ensure our approach to wildlife reflects those values.
Our state regulatory agencies—DNR and EGLE—must also do better by removing barriers to humane, nonlethal solutions and ending the harmful practice of labeling animals like beavers as worthless “nuisances.”
When we take killing off the table, we make room for real solutions—creative, collaborative, and lasting.
Through our own actions, whether by design or ignorance, we invite wildlife into our neighborhoods and parks. To then kill them the moment they inconvenience us isn’t just short-sighted—it’s hypocritical and ethically indefensible.
Urban wildlife is here to stay. The question is: do we respond with compassion and intelligence—or with traps and bullets?